Archive By Author - Martin L. Cahn

For half my life, I've wondered why in the world we still elect sheriffs in this country. I began wondering about that while working for a radio station 25 years ago in Dahlonega, Ga. Dahlonega sits in the -- no offense to anyone from there -- unfortunately named Lumpkin County.

A woman who once ran for Camden City Council and a Camden woman who plans a return to a pediatric practice will represent the city's interests on the new Kershaw County Capital Projects Sales Commission.

Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) narcotics investigators seized 9 kilograms -- or nearly 20 pounds -- of high grade cocaine April 29. The KCSO worked with S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on the seizure during which three people were arrested. Sheriff Jim Matthews declined to name those arrested or exactly where the operation took place because of an ongoing DEA investigation into the matter.

One week ago, a group of 25 Camden and Kershaw County leaders, business owners and others visited Rock Hill to see how that city transformed itself from a dying textile town to a sports tourism destination. The group -- including members of Camden City Council, candidates for city council and representatives from the Kershaw County School District -- visited sites such as Manchester Meadows (soccer), Cherry Park (baseball/softball) and Rock Hill Tennis Center. They also visited the new Riverwalk/Rock Hill Outdoor Center, which already sports a velodrome for Olympic-style cycling and, when completed, will have other amenities, including a YMCA.

Camden City Council will consider naming two city of Camden citizens to the Kershaw County Projects Sales Tax Commission. Kershaw County Council already named Camden's Woody Cleveland and Don Terrell, along with county resident Ray McElveen to the commission. The two citizens named by city council will have the task of choosing the last member from either Bethune or Elgin.

Every now and then, we clear out the cobwebs of our lives. My mother's been going through this for a while now and, as she did, came across this 25-year-old letter from me. It appears typed, since it includes hand-written edits in my handwriting. I thought it would be fun to share, since it not only offers me a bit of self-reflection, but a peek at life back in the '80s.

Rock Hill in York County may have 10 times Camden's population in three times the geographic size, but it may be a success story for Camden and Kershaw County to emulate. That's why about 25 local leaders -- city council members, staff and other officials; candidates for city council; school district officials; county officials; business owners and others -- got on a bus at 8 a.m. Monday and headed north to the "Gateway to South Carolina."

Another symptom of the economy, hospitals across the country are experiencing a higher number of drug shortages on a more frequent basis. KershawHealth can experience those shortages, too, but has processes in place that, in effect, keep patients from really even noticing.

A 53-year-old man will spend up to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to five counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one charge of first degree criminal sexual conduct.

The city of Camden's Municipal Election Commission recently certified a third petition to hold a November referendum on whether to build a sports complex. Commission Chairman Bruce Little reported to Camden City Council during its meeting Tuesday night that of the 1,211 signatures on the petition, 1,037 were found to be valid. That is still more than the 717 required to meet a 15 percent standard of city of Camden registered voters who voted in the last election. Little said the commission certified the petition at its April 13 meeting.

Camden City Council will hold a public hearing during its meeting Tuesday night to receive comments regarding its proposed Fiscal Year 2013 budget. FY 2013 begins July 1. The hearing will be part of council's regular meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. There will be no 4:30 p.m. work session.

Kershaw County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) deputies arrested a 50-year-old Camden man April 10 after he allegedly fired a shotgun blast at three juveniles and then threatened the father of two of the boys with a sword.

I have held back on writing about the Trayvon Martin case in Sanford, Fla., a few miles north of Orlando. The fallout from 17-year-old Martin's death at the hands of George Zimmerman has been fraught with charges of police corruption; hand-wringing over Florida's self-defense law; and, of course, racial overtones.